We asked for some of the greatest New York State Fair love stories and you have delivered. We continue our series of true love found at the State Fair with this story about an almost perfect first date at the Grandstand. There is still time for you to tell your own Fair related love story. Please share them, and photos if you have them, by emailing jcroyle@syracuse.com.
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“I am not a planner,” admitted Paul Burke, a former entertainment reporter for WTVH, Channel 5.
Still, Burke pulled off a nearly perfect first date with his future wife Wendy at the New York State Fair in 1990. Then, 30 years later, he put together a romantic surprise anniversary celebration for two at the New York State Fairgrounds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Fair means so much to us,” he said. “It has been our love story.”
Paul and Wendy did not really know much about each other when they attended the Michael Bolton and Kenny G concert at the Grandstand on Aug. 27, 1990.
As a member of the media, Burke got press row passes.
“I was happy to see Wendy was impressed,” he said. “When during the concert, Kenny G came right up to her, almost 20 feet away, playing his saxophone, even I was impressed.”
As far as first dates go, this was going pretty well, he thought.
“Holy crap,” he said. “I could not write this any better.”
The two performers, known for their romantic music, worked their magic on the crowd.
“We arrived together, psyched to get our seats,” Burke said, “but left holding hands like we were never going to let go.”
After the concert they grabbed two buffalo burgers, “another first,” and then headed down the Midway to do some “people watching.”
“I could tell she was my girl,” he said. “She was exactly who I was looking for.”
They came back the next night when a violent tornado struck the Fairgrounds.
Burke’s media pass got them into all the places that were off limits to the rest of the public.
“Score number two,” he remembered. “She loved it.”
About 10 weeks later, the couple married.
“You know when she is the one,” he said.
The New York State Fair has been a big part of their married life together.
Though they spend most of the year in Largo, Florida, the couple, who also have a home north of Radisson, return to the Fairgrounds every summer. They’ve done that for 32 years straight.
“The Fair means as much as our first date,” he said. “When we hear about the Fair, we both smile, grab each other’s hands, and plant a kiss.”
(Don’t bother asking Burke about the Florida State Fair. “It sucks,” he bluntly said.)
The couple found new excitement over the past few years, bringing first their children and now grandchildren to the Fairgrounds.
In 2020, when the State Fair was cancelled because of the pandemic, it seemed like their long-standing tradition would be over.
But Burke would not let it.
After hearing about the “Orange Lot Madness,” a drive-through event which offered Fair foods delivered right to your car, Burke devised a surprise 30th anniversary party.
They had all their Fair favorites, beer, bloomin’ onions, their “staple,” fried dough, and more.
“To make it more romantic,” Burke had secretly brought along a card table, picnic basket, tablecloth, wine, music box with Michael Bolton playing, and some plastic utensils, all hidden inside his car.
While socially distancing, they ate at their table, “danced with the afternoon sun shining on us like we were the only ones enjoying the rays and enjoyed our improvised date at the New York State Fair.”
He even found some premade buffalo burgers from a spot 40 miles away, all without Wendy knowing.
“They were terrible,” Burke said laughing.
Nevertheless, everything else was perfect for Paul and Wendy.
Just like it was 30 years before.
More State Fair Romance
NYS Fair Love Stories: These two were ‘big winners’ at the ‘I Got It’ game in 1996
NYS Fair Love Stories: Their eyes met in 1986 across the crowd; they’ve been together ever since
NYS Fair Love Stories: A boastful proclamation leads to a first kiss at the duck pond
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